Annual Languages Conference Liverpool October 2006

Where we stand Perceptions and facts What can be done

 Where we stand ● Spanish in the examination results: based on provisional figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications GCSE EnglandJune 2003June 2004June 2005June 2006% French308,342295,970251,706216, % German121,679118,014101,46686, % Spanish56,79059,58857,73157,5611.4%

AS EnglandJune 2003June 2004June 2005June 2006% French19,31718,23818,62317, % Spanish6,9757,4637,5468, % German8,4517,7777,6307, % ● Spanish in the examination results: based on provisional figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications A Level EnglandJune 2003June 2004June 2005June 2006% French13,68513,29512,71612, % Spanish5,1365,3095,6015, % German6,4295,8695,4815, %  Where we stand

SpanishFrenchItalian B. Sign Language German 33.5%26 %10.8 %5.4%5 % ● Spanish at all levels:  is Spanish taught at the school? The Consejería contacted 2,510 primary schools YES 12% Sep 05 4% NO 84% 2,832 primary schools in England provided some kind of teaching of Spanish last year Language Proportion of total learner numbers Language Trends 2005 – Adult Language Learning in England HE Table 2: Higher Education language students in the UK by language UK, EU and overseas domiciled students Total HE02/0303/0404/05% French studies % Spanish studies % German studies % Italian studies %

 Perceptions and Facts ● Difficult ● Not cool ● Not necessary ● Not relevant ● Not worthwhile

● Spanish is easy ● 43,79 % say Spanish is easy to learn ● 44,64 % say the language they are studying is easy as well Is it hard? Spanish is extremely accessible. It's easy to pronounce and, unlike the …., the Spanish have no hang-ups about importing English words. Clare Rudebeck, The Independent 27 February 2003  Perceptions and Facts

● Spanish is easy Who are the best people at making friends? ● SPANISH ● FRENCH ● GERMAN ● ITALIAN ● CHINESE ● BRITISH  Perceptions and Facts

Who are the best people at showing respect for other cultures? ● SPANISH ● FRENCH ● GERMAN ● ITALIAN ● CHINESE ● BRITISH  Perceptions and Facts ● Spanish is easy

● Spanish is cool Jennifer López, Raul, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, A. Banderas, Ricky Martin, Reyes, Ronaldo, Casillas, Penélope Cruz, Morientes, Fernando Alonso, Ronaldinho, Cesc Fábregas fiesta – siesta - paella – sangría – tortilla – amigo - salsa – tapas – flamenco – playa - agua – por favor  Perceptions and Facts

● Spanish is cool Which is the best country to spend a holiday with friends or family? ● SPAIN ● FRANCE ● GERMANY ● ITALY ● CHINA ● UK  Perceptions and Facts

Which country you think you will visit in the next five years? ● SPAIN ● FRANCE ● GERMANY ● ITALY ● CHINA ● None  Perceptions and Facts ● Spanish is cool

● Spanish is necessary Some 47,000 Britons, equivalent to the entire population of a town the size of Kettering or Hereford, signed on as new residents at Spanish town halls last year. That brought the registered British population in Spain to 274,000 - equivalent to a city the size of Bradford or Leicester. But experts estimate that up to three times as many Britons, about 750,000 people, spend a significant part of the year living in Spain Giles Tremlett in Madrid. Thursday July 27, 2006 The Guardian The Guardian  Perceptions and Facts

*Spanish for Where is the beach? Even a little Spanish can make a lot of difference

● Spanish is relevant Nearly 17 million British tourists visited Spain last year and the number is increasing 40% of the students in the survey said that either friends or family (or both) own propierty in Spain. International passenger traffic between Spain and UK: 34.5 million in 2005 only More low cost flights are opened every year  Perceptions and Facts

● Spanish is worthwhile Which of the following airports is operated by a Spanish company? Bristol – Gatwick – Belfast – Stanstead – Heathrow - Luton Which of the following companies is not Spanish? O2 – Zara – Camper – Abbey Bank – Old El Paso – Porcelanosa - Repsol  Perceptions and Facts Which of the following airports is operated by a Spanish company? Bristol – Gatwick – Belfast – Stanstead – Heathrow - Luton

● Spanish is worthwhile Which of the following companies is not Spanish? O2 – Zara – Camper – Abbey Bank – Old El Paso – Porcelanosa - Repsol  Perceptions and Facts Which of the following airports is operated by a Spanish company? Bristol – Gatwick – Belfast – Stanstead – Heathrow - Luton

● Spanish is worthwhile  Perceptions and Facts Which of the products below appear in the top five positions in the ranking of imports from Spain into the UK? ● CITRUS ● SHOES ● WINE ● MEDICINES ● CARS ● TOMATOES

 What can be done ● Languages Work Spanish ● Solid links with Spain ● Spanish online courses - MEC grants ● Go Spanish the Seminar ● GCSE courses in Spain